Excludes1 pair
T79.0- vs T80.0-
T79.0 and T80.0 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.
The official note, declared on T79.0
air embolism following infusion, transfusion, and therapeutic injection (T80.0)
T79.0
Air embolism (traumatic)
Not billable
- Chapter 19
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- Section
- T79
Indexed under
- Air › embolism (artery) (cerebral) (any site)
- Embolism › air (any site) (traumatic)
- Air › embolism › traumatic
T80.0
Air embolism following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection
Not billable
- Chapter 19
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- Section
- T80-T88
Indexed under
- Complication › infusion › air embolism
- Complication › transfusion › air embolism
- Air › embolism › following › infusion, therapeutic injection or transfusion
- Embolism › air › following › infusion, therapeutic injection or transfusion
- Embolism › following › infusion, therapeutic injection or transfusion › air
Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027